Local unemployment rate up in September, down statewide

Published: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 10:38 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 6:57 p.m.

Etowah County’s unemployment rate rose by nearly a percentage point in October after two months of decline, according to the Alabama Department of Labor, while the state’s unemployment rate declined slightly.

The county’s rate was 8.5 percent, up from 7.6 percent in September. The state’s rate fell from 8.2 percent to 8.1 percent.

Both rates were 8.5 percent a year ago.

The national unemployment rate in October was 7.9 percent, up from the September rate of 7.8 percent.

Other Northeast Alabama counties saw their unemployment rates go up as well in October.

The state unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted, but county unemployment rates are not.

Etowah County had 3,913 people unemployed in October, up from the September level of 3,389. A two-week cutback in production from Sept. 29 through Oct. 14 at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber plant that affected about a fourth of the plant’s employees could have impacted the county’s numbers, since statistics were collected during that time.

Despite the spike in the unemployment rate, the number of people employed in the county increased slightly, from 41,390 in September to 42,048 in October.

The county’s civilian workforce also expanded to 45,961 in October from 44,779 in September.

The state’s civilian labor force increased from 2,154,431 in September to 2,160,627 in October. The number of employed individuals increased from 1,976,799 to 1,985,614, while the number of unemployed individuals decreased from 177,632 to 175,013 and is down more by more than 10,000 from the October 2011 total of 186,251.

“These numbers show more Alabamians have jobs, and that’s an encouraging sign we’re headed in the right direction,” said Gov. Robert Bentley. “Our efforts to attract more jobs for people across the state will continue.”

Bentley said the recent approval of a constitutional amendment that provides for funding for incentives for industrial projects will help the state recruit new industries and encourage existing ones to expand.

“This month, everything worked out the way we wish it would always work out,” Alabama Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said. “Our labor force grew, the number of Alabamians working increased and the number of those unemployed decreased. We hope to continue seeing these positive signs in the future.”

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Shelby at 5.4 percent, Coffee and Madison at 6.6 percent and Lee and St. Clair at 6.7 percent. The counties with the highest rates were Wilcox at 17.0 percent, Bullock at 16.2 percent and Dallas at 14.8 percent.

<p>Etowah County's unemployment rate rose by nearly a percentage point in October after two months of decline, according to the Alabama Department of Labor, while the state's unemployment rate declined slightly.</p><p>The county's rate was 8.5 percent, up from 7.6 percent in September. The state's rate fell from 8.2 percent to 8.1 percent.</p><p>Both rates were 8.5 percent a year ago.</p><p>The national unemployment rate in October was 7.9 percent, up from the September rate of 7.8 percent.</p><p>Other Northeast Alabama counties saw their unemployment rates go up as well in October.</p><p>The state unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted, but county unemployment rates are not.</p><p>Etowah County had 3,913 people unemployed in October, up from the September level of 3,389. A two-week cutback in production from Sept. 29 through Oct. 14 at the <a href="http://www.gadsdentimes.com/goodyear"><b>Goodyear</b></a> Tire & Rubber plant that affected about a fourth of the plant's employees could have impacted the county's numbers, since statistics were collected during that time. </p><p>Despite the spike in the unemployment rate, the number of people employed in the county increased slightly, from 41,390 in September to 42,048 in October.</p><p>The county's civilian workforce also expanded to 45,961 in October from 44,779 in September.</p><p>The state's civilian labor force increased from 2,154,431 in September to 2,160,627 in October. The number of employed individuals increased from 1,976,799 to 1,985,614, while the number of unemployed individuals decreased from 177,632 to 175,013 and is down more by more than 10,000 from the October 2011 total of 186,251.</p><p>“These numbers show more Alabamians have jobs, and that's an encouraging sign we're headed in the right direction,” said Gov. Robert Bentley. “Our efforts to attract more jobs for people across the state will continue.” </p><p>Bentley said the recent approval of a constitutional amendment that provides for funding for incentives for industrial projects will help the state recruit new industries and encourage existing ones to expand.</p><p>“This month, everything worked out the way we wish it would always work out,” Alabama Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said. “Our labor force grew, the number of Alabamians working increased and the number of those unemployed decreased. We hope to continue seeing these positive signs in the future.”</p><p>The counties with the lowest unemployment rates were Shelby at 5.4 percent, Coffee and Madison at 6.6 percent and Lee and St. Clair at 6.7 percent. The counties with the highest rates were Wilcox at 17.0 percent, Bullock at 16.2 percent and Dallas at 14.8 percent.</p>